There but for the grace...

Today I took a trip out on the bike after an impromptu meeting with
Beav (of this parish). Quick blast up the M6, met near Warrington and
then nipped off down the A49 to enjoy the sweepy bits. Only one minor
event of note - some bloke in a rigid truck with trailer managing to
block all four lanes by wedging it up against a sign when he tried to
do a U turn. Swift application of the anchors, nip around him and
continue on.

On reaching Northwich we pulled into J&S, manouvered around the
bikepark and this is when my left handlebar clamp decided enough was
enough. The hinge failed, leaving me with a loosely attached left
handlebar.

A swift scrounge of cable ties saw it more securely attached, but still
not really load-bearing, so a one-handed return leg made it a touch
more interesting.

Here's the offending article for your enjoyment:
http://www.dash.dsl.pipex.com/chris/pics/clamp1.jpg
http://www.dash.dsl.pipex.com/chris/pics/clamp2.jpg

I can't even get the new handlebar[1] on because the clamp bolt appears
to be bent. Bugger.

[1] Last time it went in for a service the chap said there was a crack
in the handlebar, so I got a new one but then forgot to fit it.

 

snip>

I'm not sure I'd have admitted this.

Lucky escape, take it as a lesson and trade the pos in for a 10R.

 

You lucky, lucky ****!

 

That's a shite weak-looking design. I'd be inclined to throw it back at
Triumph and make a noise about it. Safety related issue, innit?
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a
I demand nothing of you except that you amuse me.

Folding@Home Team UKRM
http://vspx27.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=47957

 

Christofire said...

YTC for not fitting the new bar, and you lucky **** for not having it
fail earlier.

I lost a clip-on from an AR80 once, flat out at 65mph on a left hand
bend. I ended up in a muddy ditch and had to be jet-washed down before I
dare go home to my then girlfriend.

 

Prior to reading this I was going to post...

*very* worrying!

This has now been edited to...

*very* stupid! )

 

Words fail me.

 

I thought the bit he pointed to was the handlebar, not the clamp.
However, the handlebar and clamp can only be bought as a single item,
so the whole lot is getting replaced. I can't find anything wrong with
the actual bar now it's out, so that'll go on ebay.

I'm looking for one, only a bit harder now.

 

Well, it may or may not be Triumph's fault, but as their chaps had
picked it up and warned me about it I didn't want anyone apportioning
blame on my behalf.

I'm on the lookout for one.

I forgot to mention in my OP, to my disgrace, many thanks to Beav who
helped by getting the cable ties and shoring up the bar before
following me home to make sure I got there OK. Ta muchly.

 

It was one of those moments where I didn't know whether it was shit
that it had broken, or lucky that it had broken where it had. Oh well,
I'm here to post about it.

<makes note to buy lottery ticket>

 

Jeez, you pillock...

That must have been fun.

And the service was yesterday? Or a couple of months ago. The longer
ago the service, the bigger the pillock you are.

You are one lucky bugger. Glad you're in one piece and the bike too...

 

Did you notice that shitey trailer minus a wheel half on/half off the road
near there? Looks like the huge load of stone blocks was too much for it and
a wheel fell off, switly followed by the number plate mysteriously going
missing (?). I had the impression the bloke just left i there like an ampty
fag packet.

I thought that original bolt was being a twat by refusing to turn when it
was obviously not tight. Get the hammer out, put a nut on the other end and
give it a smack. Or get a new bolt.

He



--
Beav
OMF#19
VN 750
Zed Thou

mail is beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com (with the obvious changes)

 

" "

 

That's all he talked about. We even went to examine a McDonalds box so he
could walk past one (again) in the cinema car park. We knew it was the
cinema car park coz some miserable old bag couldn't wait to tell me that
bikes going to J&S shouldn't park there. There must've been 40 or more bikes
there.

I eventually had to ask her if sshe was going to get her parking tickets
out.


--
Beav
OMF#19
VN 750
Zed Thou

mail is beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com (with the obvious changes)

 

I'll be trying a new bolt. I don't want to take any more chances, even
if I will be selling it soon.

 

It wasn't that bad actually, and after about 10 minutes it was quite
easy. I'd seen a bloke up at Rivington (bike meet) with three
handlebars - he had a fucked left arm and couldn't reach the bars, so
he had all the controls moved to a third handlebar which dangled loose.
This let him steer with the right hand and still do clutchy-things with
the left hand. I now know how he gets on.

Erm, well, it was before I went to the isle of man last year. This is
partly why I really don't want to play the "what if" game. Moving
swiftly on...

 

<G> You're just digging yourself a hole that's getting bigger and
bigger...

 

Swot we're 'ere for innit? Not a bad brew on the return either, but those
fucking apehangers! ****, he must have arms like a gorilla.


--
Beav
OMF#19
VN 750
Zed Thou

mail is beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com (with the obvious changes)

 

I thought it might just be "Christofire option #1"


--
Beav
OMF#19
VN 750
Zed Thou

mail is beavis dot original at ntlworld dot com (with the obvious changes)

 

Not very hard. I've seen new ones in (of course) Titanium for 6750 or
thereabouts